San Francisco’s QB Saga Takes Another Twist: 49ers Set to Bring Back Trey Lance in Shocking Move
Friday, the Dallas Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers to acquire quarterback Trey Lance.
This means that the Vikings have violated a vital NFL rule: Never get outmaneuvered by the most overrated franchise in American sports.
Saturday, the Vikings concluded their preseason schedule with an 18-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium, while playing their fifth-round draft pick, quarterback Jaren Hall, the entire game.
In 2021, the 49ers traded three first-round picks and a third-round pick to move up to take Lance, a North Dakota State standout from Marshall, Minn., with the third overall pick. That was a mistake, and Lance damaged his stock this summer by failing to beat out journeyman Sam Darnold for the backup job in San Francisco.
So why should the Vikings have traded for a player who was overrated in the draft and has spent his time in the NFL either looking raw or recuperating from injuries?
Because of the price, his age, his upside and the Vikings’ future.
NFL executives love to value draft picks, but consider what a fourth-round pick is really worth. The Vikings spent a first-round pick on safety Lewis Cine, a second-round pick on cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. and a later second-round pick on guard Ed Ingram, and none of them has proved to be a quality NFL starter.
Why wouldn’t a talented quarterback with at least a fighting chance to develop into a starter at the most important position in sports be worth a third- or fourth-round pick?